Psychological trauma

Rationale

Exposure to distressing events may cause psychological trauma, leading to disabling mental health disorders that require intervention. Related diagnoses carry an increased risk for suicide.

Causal Conditions

(list not exhaustive)

1. Adjustment disorder
2. Acute stress disorder
3. Posttraumatic stress disorder
4. Grief
5. Prolonged grief disorder

Key Objectives

Given a patient who has experienced psychological trauma, the candidate will diagnose the nature, severity, and complications to develop an appropriate management plan. The candidate will assess safety risks and the potential need for urgent care.

Enabling Objectives

1. Define psychological trauma
2. Describe a pathological response to trauma
3. List risk factors for a trauma- and stressor-related disorder, including
   1. extrinsic risks (e.g., violence, generational trauma, childhood adversity, lower socioeconomic status)
   2. intrinsic risks (e.g., genetic factors, family physiologic history, experiencing trauma at a younger age)
4. Describe the clinical features of psychological trauma-related disorders, including
   1. adjustment disorder
   2. acute stress disorder
   3. posttraumatic stress disorder
   4. prolonged grief disorder
5. List and interpret critical clinical findings, including those based on a history, a physical examination, and/or an assessment of mental status
6. Construct an initial management plan, including
   1. an assessment of safety (e.g., risk for suicide, risk to others)
   2. initiation of appropriate therapies (e.g., pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy)
   3. appropriate involvement of family and supportive resources
   4. determination as to whether a referral for specialized care is required